Act Two, Scene 4

This is the fourth scene of the second act of my play, A Sword Unsheathed, originally written in French and translated into English for publication on the blog. If you haven’t yet read the first scene, you can find it here. You can find all the scenes published so far on this page. The original French version of this scene is found at the end of the post. (Read in French.) Please read the historical note here.

FRANCIS HUGER, now about 24 years old
GILBERT DU MOTIER, the Marquis de Lafayette, now about 37 years old
JUSTUS BOLLMANN, a German doctor, about 26 years old
Three Austrian soldiers

The year 1794. A wooded scene, early in the evening. On the horizon, the contours of a fort. Indistinct voices offstage, stage left. Francis, Justus and Gilbert appear, accompanied by a sergeant and two other soldiers wearing Austrian uniforms — dark green coats, white knickers — who follow several yards behind with a single horse.

GILBERT (indicating a tree): And that one is a white pine, very common in this area, as it is in Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland. It’s known even in my region of Auvergne.

JUSTUS: You have become a true arborist during your stay here, Marquis.

GILBERT: I have so much time on my hands that I’v been able to discover several new passions. (He looks towards the escort.) Under the circumstances, I have no choice but to take advantage of the time, Doctor Bollmann.

JUSTUS (laughssoftly): Precisely.

(The group reaches center stage and stops.
Francis poses a large sack on the ground.
The escort stops at a distance.
The soldiers begin chatting among themselves.)

FRANCIS (looking into the distance): We don’t have much time before sunset. (He looks at Justus surreptitiously.)

JUSTUS (in a loud voice): Yes, half an hour, perhaps.

FRANCIS (loudly): Marquis, would you like to go back down the hill to the carriage? (He continues to speak directly to Gilbert in a quieter voice.) Now’s the time, Gilbert. Are you ready?

GILBERT (in a low voice, chuckling, very close to Francis): If not now, when? (continuing in a loud voice) Well, messieurs, I’m ready to go home. There begins to be a chill in the air.

(The soldiers begin to move around a bit.One of the soldiers brings the horse to Justus.
Justus takes the reins and leads it to Gilbert.)

GILBERT (in a loud voice): This has been a beautiful excursion, messieurs. I thank you. (He suddenly begins to cough violently.)

FRANCIS (loudly): Marquis, you’re not well. Come sit down for a moment. (He leads Gilbert to a rock, stage right, where he sits down. Francis turns towards Justus.) Justus, there’s some wine in the sack, I believe.

(The sergeant nods and speaks to the others in a low voice.
Two of them squat down, and the three begin to talk amongst themselves.
Justus ties the reins to a tree trunk, walks to the sack and rummages inside.
He pulls out two pistols and places them inside his coat.He pulls out a bottle of wine and goes over to Gilbert and Francis.)

FRANCIS (speaking directly to Gilbert): At the bottom of the hill, head towards the north. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself back in Olmütz. If you follow that road for ten miles you’ll come to Sternberg, where there’s an inn. We’ll find you there late tonight.

GILBERT: Very good. Thank you, Francis. Thank you for everything. (a short pause) Your father would be proud. Nathaniel would be proud.

(Francis grasps Gilbert by the arms and nods solemnly.)

JUSTUS (arriving with the bottle): Here we are, Marquis: some wine.

(Justus hands the bottle to Gilbert, who takes a gulp
and puts it down on the ground. Justus gives him one of the pistols.
Gilbert places it in his belt.)

GILBERT: Thank you, Justus. Thank you for everything.

FRANCIS (directly to Gilbert): It’s time, Gilbert.

GILBERT (hesitates a moment): Perhaps one more draft. (He takes another gulp of the wine.) Alright. It’s time. Courage, mes amis. Until tonight.

(Gilbert stands up, suddenly grabs the the horse’s reins and tries to mount.)

(The other soldiers charge Gilbert, Francis and Justus.
Justus brandishes his pistol and fires once. A general melee, shouts, punches.
The first soldier advances on Gilbert, who succeeds in mounting the horse.)

FRANCIS (grabs the sack and pulls out the saber): Gilbert! Go!

(The soldier reaches the horse and grabs the reins.
Francis advances with the saber and strikes the soldier,
who falls to the ground, releasing the reins.
The sergeant, stage left, aims his pistol
as Justus struggles against the second soldier.
He fires.)

FRANCIS (collapses to his knees): Go Gilbert!

(Justus frees himself from the grasp of the second soldier,
seizes the sergeant’s arm and starts to struggle against him.)

GILBERT (looking at Francis from astride the horse): You’ve been struck!

FRANCIS (stands up): Go on! I’m fine. Go! To the north! (He brandishes the saber at the second soldier who advances towards him.)

(Gilbert turns the horse and exits left right.
The lights dim. The melee continues.
The lights go out.)